Rapper 50 Cent will make his film debut in the semi-autobiographical "Locked and Loaded." The project will be shepherded by Interscope Geffen A&M chairman/CEO Jimmy Iovine and Eminem manager Paul Rosenberg, who have inked a first-look feature film deal with Paramount Pictures and MTV Films.

In "Locked and Loaded," 50 Cent will play a former drug dealer who gives up a life of crime to pursue a music career. "The Sopranos" writer-executive producer Terence Winter is writing the screenplay, which Paramount says is expected in theaters in 2005 or 2006.

Iovine and Rosenberg were, respectively, a producer and executive producer of Universal's "8 Mile," a 2002 feature film loosely based on the life of its star, Eminem. The film grossed nearly $117 million at the U.S. box office. The "8 Mile" soundtrack spawned Eminem's "Lose Yourself," which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in addition to winning an Oscar for best original song and a Grammy Award for best rap song.

Rosenberg is a vice president at Eminem's Shady Records, to which 50 Cent is signed. The label is expected to release the "Locked and Loaded" soundtrack.

'Land' line: Leguizamo, Baker, Hopper play 'Dead'
Simon Baker, John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper are off to "The Land of the Dead," George A. Romero's return to the zombie genre that he made famous.

Written and directed by Romero, the story takes place in a world overrun by zombies where the survivors live in a walled city. While the zombies are evolving, certain factions seek to overthrow the city.

The film is meant to complement Romero's earlier zombie movies, "Night of the Living Dead," "Dawn of the Dead" and "Day of the Dead," and also start a new line of zombie films.

Baker will be seen in "The Ring 2" (opening next March). Leguizamo, who's shooting "The Honeymooners," can be seen in "Assault on Precinct 13" (opening in January).

'R-e-s-p-e-c-t,' find out what it means to Singleton
Paramount Pictures has optioned worldwide film rights to Midway Games' new property "Fear & Respect," which John Singleton is developing as a video game. The urban-action adventure game is set in South-Central Los Angeles and will be available in the fourth quarter of 2005 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

The deal reflects the synergy between the video game and feature film industries. Singleton, who has directed such movies as "Boyz N the Hood" and the "Shaft" remake, is collaborating on the game.

"Fear & Respect" is a game about a young man who has to make survival choices in the urban world of Los Angeles.

Midway also has optioned "Spy Hunter" to Universal Pictures. John Woo ("Paycheck") and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson are signed to direct and star, respectively. It's also packaging "Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy" for a studio and developing a third "Mortal Kombat" movie.

Nick without Jessica goes for 'Easy' money
After testing his acting chops on the WB Network's "Charmed," Nick Lachey is making the move to the big screen, signing on for a role in the indie film "The Hard Easy." Shooting is under way in Los Angeles on the heist film, with Ari Ryan at the helm.

The film also stars Henry Thomas, David Boreanaz, Vera Farmiga, Bruce Dern and Peter Weller. The story follows two groups of thieves who, unbeknownst to each other, attempt to rob the same jewelry store.

Lachey will play a guy who gets out of his tough neighborhood to become a high-powered accountant. However, he winds up on the verge of losing it all and teams with one of the groups – led by Weller's character – to help out in the heist.

Lachey is perhaps best known for being a member of the group 98 Degrees and the reality show "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica," in which he stars opposite his wife, Jessica Simpson, who recently announced her plans for a big-screen career with Warner Bros.' "Dukes of Hazzard." He'll be seen making a cameo appearance in Columbia Pictures' "Bewitched" (opening next summer) opposite Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell.

'Cool' movie ideas for enthusiastic Hines
After lensing three films during her summer break, Cheryl Hines has signed on for a couple more big-screen projects.

She'll play the love interest of Michael Keaton's character in the Angela ("D.E.B.S.") Robinson-directed "Herbie: Fully Loaded" for the Walt Disney Co. Lindsay Lohan toplines the project along with Matt Dillon, Breckin Meyer, Justin Long and Alanna Ubach. Shooting is under way.

Hines will then segue to a role opposite Patrick ("Almost Famous") Fugit in "Bickford Schmeckler's Cool Ideas" for filmmaker Scott Lew. In that film, Hines plays a sexy professor who sees Bickford's potential and helps him publish his cool ideas.

The "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star can be heard as the female lead voice in the DreamWorks animated series "Father of the Pride" on NBC. She begins a new season of "Curb" for HBO in early 2005. The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard contributed to this column.